Education, From The Capitol To The Classroom

Stories about students: How does education policy affect the way students learn and grow? Can schools meet their needs as they balance ramped-up testing with personal changes and busy schedules? And are students who need help getting it?

Stories about educators: How are those responsible for implementing education policy in schools − from classroom teachers, to district administrators, to school board members − affected by changes at the top? And how well do they meet their challenge of reaching students with varying abilities and needs?

Stories about school assessment: With an increased push for 'accountability' in schools, what can test scores tell us about teacher effectiveness and student learning − and what can't they tell us? What does the data say about how schools at all levels are performing?

Stories about government influence: Who are the people and groups most instrumental in crafting education policy? What are their priorities and agendas? And how do they work together when they disagree?

Stories about money: How do local, state, and federal governments pay to support the education policies they craft? How do direct costs of going to school − from textbooks to tuition − hit a parent or student's bottom line? And how do changing budgets and funding formulas affect learning and teaching?

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Daniels wondered, too. He asked for opinions from David Thomas, inspector general, and Tim Grogg, the director of executive branch lobbying. Both told the governor they saw no conflict, though only the full ethics commission can write an official opinion. That’s what Daniels is seeking now. He says:

Indiana had one of the weakest ethics situations in the country when we first came to the office. And one of the first things on the first day I did by executive order was create a ‘revolving door’ rule and an inspector general to enforce that, as well as whistleblower protections and other things. We later fought that through into law. You can imagine I’m extremely conscious of staying way within all such boundaries.

It’s unlikely that the governor will cross any of those lines, at least not legally. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t lingering opposition to Daniels’ selection.

“It does seem strange that Daniels was hired by a board filled largely with people he appointed,” writes Indianapolis Star columnist Matthew Tully. “The issue is mitigated by the fact that landing Daniels is a huge boost to, and a dream hire for, the school.”

Purdue alumni and West Lafayette resident Aaron Hoover felt so strongly about Daniels leading the school he organized a protest to ask the Board of Trustees to reconsider.

“Ethical people avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest,” he told StateImpact.